Wenger targeting Europa League success ahead of Arsenal exit

Arsene Wenger has questioned whether a “perfect goodbye” exists in football but wants to deliver Europa League success more for his players than for his own personal glory.

The club announced last Friday that Wenger will step down in the summer after over 21 years at the helm – with the Frenchman also confirming he intends to continue working following his exit.

The timing of the announcement came as a surprise with the Gunners still fighting to finish as high up in the Premier League as they can and with a Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on the horizon.

The first leg against the LaLiga side takes place at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night, the second time in four days Wenger has taken charge of a home match following the revelation he will leave.

He said: “At the moment I do not look after myself, I just want to do well.

“I just want to do as well as I can because this team has quality, these guys – I’ve seen them this season be challenged mentally.

“I’ve always seen them respond in a positive way and I think this group of players deserves something special.

“I want to do it for them, to achieve something with them because I feel they have a special mental quality.

“My biggest satisfaction would be to be successful together with the group of players that I have. I’ve seen them behave the whole season and they deserve it.”

Wenger will go into his final European home game as Arsenal boss with the boost of having Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Petr Cech available.

The trio missed the weekend win over the Hammers with minor problems but all trained on Wednesday.

Wenger is also hopeful that Henrikh Mkhitaryan could recover from a knee injury to feature in the second leg in Madrid next week, but there was worse news over the fitness of Mohamed Elneny, who suffered ankle ligament damage in the West Ham game.

“Mohamed Elneny is out for the rest of the season,” he said.

“He has a little chance to play at Huddersfield. I think he will be available for Egypt at the World Cup, but not any more for Arsenal.”

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone insists Diego Costa is fit and ready to “intimidate” Arsenal.

The former Chelsea striker scored three times in six games against the Gunners during his time at Stamford Bridge, including the equaliser in last season’s FA Cup final which Arsenal went on to win 2-1.

The Spain international always seemed to be able to rile the Arsenal defence and was directly involved in red cards issued to Gabriel and Per Mertesacker during separate clashes between the teams.

He left Chelsea under a cloud after a spat with Antonio Conte as he returned to Atletico in time to be registered in the January transfer window.

Since then the 29-year-old has scored six goals but has sat out the last three matches with a hamstring problem, with Simeone claiming at the weekend the forward had “no chance” of playing in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

However, Costa has travelled with the remainder of his team-mates and Simeone revealed there are several reasons to be cheerful for having him available.

Asked if Costa was included to intimidate Arsenal or give his team-mates a boost, Simeone replied: “Knowing Diego Costa, I think all of those apply to him.

“Both in England and in Spain, many teams have suffered at the hands of Diego Costa. Not just Arsenal. He has improved.

“He trained hard on Tuesday and he trained on Wednesday and based on what we will see fit, he will either play from the start or from the bench.”

When asked for his thoughts on Wenger, Simeone added: “The first thing that comes to mind is admiration.

“He is a fantastic coach and professional. He has amazing ability and that he has been able to remain at helm of a club like Arsenal means he has had to reinvent himself many times.

“I see myself as quite a young coach still. I want to observe and learn from him and the best word is admiration when you look at the career Wenger has had.

“We are both coaches and it is very difficult to stay at this level as you’re always competing and putting yourself on the line.

“When your team do well people demand more victories but the position he has occupied in football is wonderful.”